News & Events

Burrows Named a Law360 Rising Star

London partner Simon Burrows (Private Equity) has been named a “Rising Star” by Law360. Law360’s Rising Stars Awards recognize attorneys under the age of 40 “whose legal accomplishments belie their age.”

Burrows’ Law360 profile, published on April 15, discusses the key role he has played in expanding the firm’s private equity practice since joining the firm in 2013. His impressive achievements include the nine publicly announced deals worth more than £2.3 billion ($3.4 billion) that he worked on in 2014 alone, and his contributions to the 72 separate mandates the London private equity team won from 15 different private equity houses within 12 months of his arrival at the firm.

Last year, the London team handled 23 private equity transactions, most of which involved Burrows. These notable deals included advising Bridgepoint Capital Ltd. on its $363 million acquisition of TTT Moneycorp Ltd. from RBS Special Opportunities, and two deals with Vitruvian Partners LLP, including the London firm’s $136 million acquisition of JacTravel Group from Bowmark Capital LLP.

Gaining business from Bridgepoint, a European leader in the midmarket segment, validated the private equity practice’s standing in the marketplace, Burrows noted. “Shearman has done private equity for years and years,” he says. “We just haven’t shouted from the rooftop about it.”

In his 10 years of practicing law, Burrows has found that being willing to roll up your sleeves and win the hearts and minds of management is what brings clients back. “Enjoying their wins and feeling the pains…is the key,” he says. If your client doesn’t feel you are worried about them, you are not going to be able to get a lot of deals done.”